Originally from China, Yunfei Han is a jazz guitarist, bandleader, and music educator who has made Cape Breton his musical home since moving here in 2024.

Yunfei studied electric guitar at Nanjing University of the Arts before completing a master’s degree in music at Jiangsu Normal University. His work as a performer and educator in China included leading a local jazz big band of nearly 30 musicians and researching ways to bring jazz together with traditional Chinese instruments.

Since arriving in Cape Breton, Yunfei has become an active part of the local music community, performing regularly at Friday Jazz Night at Daniel’s, as well as at churches, community events, and venues throughout the island. He is also the founder and bandleader of Capers Big Band, bringing musicians from across Cape Breton together to celebrate big band jazz.

For Yunfei, music is about more than performance. It is a way to connect cultures, build community, and bring people together.

Tom Easley has earned a reputation as one of Eastern Canada’s finest jazz bassists, composers, and educators. A two-time East Coast Music Award winner and Maple Blues Award winner, Tom has also received multiple award nominations throughout his career.

For a decade, Tom co-led the group Hot Toddy, co-producing seven CDs and performing at major jazz and blues festivals across Canada, Europe, and the United States. He is also a member of the award-winning group Nine Steps, featuring Bill Stevenson and Geoff Arsenault.

Over the past 25 years, Tom has performed alongside internationally recognized artists including Mike Murley, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, John Abercrombie, Mike Stern, Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Phil Dwyer, David Liebman, and Los Lobos.

James Munroe has been making music professionally since his teens, working as a trombonist, lead vocalist, keyboardist, arranger, and musical director.

A familiar face on the Cape Breton music scene, James was a member and co-arranger with the Cape Breton Christmas Daddies House Band for more than a decade and has appeared on nationally broadcast programs including CBC’s Ear to the Ground, CITY-TV’s Breakfast Television, and Global TV.

These days, you can find him playing locally with the Jazz Adjacents every Friday at Daniel’s Taphouse, as well as performing with the Capers Big Band throughout the year.

Joseph Parris, a lifelong resident of Whitney Pier, has been a working in Cape Breton’s music community for more than five decades. Born into a celebrated musical family, he began performing professionally at fourteen with his father’s renowned Eddie Parris Orchestra, launching a career that would span rock, blues, gospel, and R&B. Joseph became a fixture on stages across the island, performing with groups such as The Relatives, Spyder, Sweet Emotion, The Road Kings and most recently The Legends, while also sharing the stage with the Inspirational Singers.

His artistry, leadership, and commitment to preserving and advancing African Nova Scotian musical heritage have earned him widespread respect. A past recipient of ANSMA Pioneer Award and this year, Joseph is honoured as the ECMA Bucky Adams Award recipient, recognizing his enduring impact on East Coast music.

Cape Breton singer-songwriter Steve Luxton brings a unique combination of performance, songwriting, recording, and production experience to this year’s Cape Breton Jazz Festival.

Based in Sydney Mines, Steve has spent years working behind the scenes and on stage, contributing to a wide variety of musical projects and recording sessions. His work has included professional studios such as Metalworks Studio, Howl Studio, and Slip One Digital, where he developed a strong ear for arrangement and production.

Steve later pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance at Humber College in the Greater Toronto Area, where he began exploring the possibilities of jazz improvisation. While completing his degree, he continued working professionally as head engineer and lead front-of-house sound engineer at Howl Studio in Oakville.

Janet has been singing and playing guitar since she was a teenager, but her love of jazz grew from the Sunday mornings she spent at Rudy’s Den listening to some of Cape Breton’s finest musicians.

Inspired by musicians including Neil Chambers, Rudy Pace, Denny Burchill, Dave MacDonald, Red Mike, Eddy MacDonald and Joe Waye, Janet was captivated by the musicianship and the community surrounding the music.

Her performing career began while she was living in Qatar, where she developed a real thirst for performing and spent her time singing folk and rock favourites. Years later, she reconnected with Carl Getto and, through the jazz festivals he was organizing, decided to dive into jazz herself.

That passion eventually led to Saturday Night Jazz at the Tap Room Restaurant and Friday supper hour jazz at Daniel’s Pub. Janet and Carl continued to collaborate, helping create the jazz spaces and atmosphere that continue to be an important part of the local music scene.

For the past seven years, Janet has also worked alongside Carl as co-coordinator of the Cape Breton Jazz Festival. This year, she’ll be singing mostly blues with her musical friends in Barnful of Blues, as well as jumping into the After Hours Jazz Jam at Second Encore Pub

Shelley Allen is known for her rich vocals, engaging stage presence and ability to move effortlessly between musical styles. With guitar and percussion, she brings together soulful blues, swinging jazz, roots music, country and Celtic traditions to create a sound that is uniquely her own.

A familiar face on stages throughout Atlantic Canada, Shelley has performed with acclaimed groups including Hell’s Belles and Barnful of Blues, as well as with numerous local jazz ensembles. Whether she’s performing at a festival, theatre, pub or intimate listening room, Shelley has a genuine gift for connecting with her audience.

Beyond the stage, Shelley is an accredited Music Therapist who leads innovative programs for seniors, people living with dementia, community wellness groups and people with developmental and cognitive challenges. Her work is rooted in the belief that music is a powerful tool for communication, healing and connection.

From a soulful blues ballad to a swinging jazz standard or a heartfelt Celtic favourite, Shelley brings warmth, authenticity and exceptional musicianship to every performance.

Jeff Johnston is an award-winning composer for film, games, and television. His music has been heard on PBS, Prime, CBC Gem, The Documentary Channel, Teletoon, CTV, and Global TV, and he has scored numerous films for the National Film Board of Canada.

With musical beginnings as a jazz pianist and recording artist, Jeff quickly became known for his distinct musical voice, gaining wide recognition as a composer and bandleader. His growing list of more than 30 screen credits spans animation, drama, and documentary, blending lush harmonies, rhythmic inventiveness, modern textures, and a strong narrative sense.

Jeff has recorded with ensembles including the City of Prague Philharmonic, the Molinari String Quartet, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, creating music that connects whether for the big screen, the small screen, or the concert hall.

In 2025, Johnston received a Juno Award, Canada’s Grammy, for his role as arranger/orchestrator on Classical Composition of the Year. He holds a Master’s degree in Orchestration for Film, Games and Television from Thinkspace Education/University of Chichester.

Ed Woodsworth is a seasoned East Coast freelance multi-instrumentalist, educator, and producer based in Sydney, Nova Scotia. A graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (Silver Medalist), Ed has been a musical mainstay for over 35 years. He has recorded and toured globally with major maritime acts, including Jimmy Rankin, Rita MacNeil, Ashley MacIsaac, The Barra MacNeils, Ron Hynes, Bruce Guthro, and Gordie Sampson.

His career highlights include performing on television for the Juno Awards, the Canadian Country Music Awards, and on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Primarily a bassist, Ed’s natural musicality extends to singing, songwriting, guitar, production, and pedal steel. Recognized for his industry contributions, he received the ECMA Musician’s Achievement Award, and a Music New Brunswick, Folk Recording of the Year nod as a producer. Today, Ed balances a busy schedule as a solo performer, session player, and instructor.

https://www.edwoodsworth.com/